Have a 5K, 10K, half- or full-marathon coming up? Get to the finish line faster and feeling stronger with these tips from Nike trainer Joe Holder on how to improve your speed. Ready, set, GO:

1. Focus on your own pace, not anyone else's: If you log miles, you’re a runner—embrace that notion! "People have this finite vision of fast, but instead of it having it absolute, compare against your own speed," Joe advises. We all can't run five-minute miles, but just shaving a few seconds of your 10-minute one is a legitimate reason to pat yourself on the back.

2. Think about endurance: Drills and exercises that focus on your speed also will help you perform better during longer runs. Why? They tax your anaerobic capacity, which is when your muscles work without oxygen, and can help increase your speed, endurance and overall fitness, Joe says. Get started with one of these treadmill workouts that incorporate speed play. ____

3. Start simple: If you're new to running, the idea of speed drills around a track may seem daunting and overly technical in the beginning. So try this instead: Head out for a two-mile run. Start at a pace that feels slightly more challenging than what you’re used to says Joe. Then, "pick arbitrary periods of time where you pick up your pace," he says. So, maybe you go hard for two minutes, slow down to your initial pace for five minutes, then pick it back up again. "You're in that level of being slightly uncomfortable and getting used to working hard," Joe says. The payoff? You may be surprised at how easy your normal pace feels when you go back to it.

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